Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Viewer Discretion Advised by Cindy Roesel

About the Book

LIVE FROM MIAMI! The sensationalism shown on television can only be topped by the drama that happens behind the camera. After being fired from her job in Los Angeles, Charlene "Charley" Thomas moves to sizzling Miami and begins working as news director at a local television station. While getting used to her new gig, Charley wakes up to the fact that her station manager, Jonathan Lefton, is the boss from hell who will do anything for a story no matter who gets hurt in the process.

When nude pictures of noon anchor, Miranda Andrews, are discovered in the men's room of a Key West bar, all hell breaks loose. They end up on Lefton's desk and he promotes her over the main anchor, sparking off a firestorm. Miranda's quickly thrown into the mix and assigned special reports. Charley finds herself overseeing an investigation that could shine light on the guilt of a dirty cop. Real life begins to mimic the drama of broadcast news when station personalities face life and death all for rating and Emmys! Viewer Discretion Advised is a modern day "Sex and the City" meets "Broadcast News".

My Thoughts & Rating

I have to admit that when I began to read this book I was a little worried it would be strictly about working for a news station--which I know nothing about. My fears were quickly snuffed out when I got a few pages in. There was a romance where I cheered Charley on, a dirty cop who I just knew would be up to no good, and a boss who reminded me of plenty of bosses from my own past. Cindy Roesel is a talented, entertaining, and imaginative author. I loved this book and am crossing my fingers that she will come out with a sequel!

I rate this book a five out of five stars! A quick read that will grab your attention and make you secretly wish you were in the television station business. I cannot wait to read more of Cindy's books!

“Did you just see the promo for that bitch? She even looks good.” Lefton screamed.

“Especially since she looked punched out a couple days ago,” she answered calmly.

“And?” he screamed, ready to implode.

“And what?” she said.

“I’ve already called our lawyers. That bitch will not be on the air tonight, or ever.”

Charley had a crazy idea. He’s either going to love it, or fire my ass. “Jonathan, I have a wild idea. Here me out before you scream anything.”

“Don’t play *** games with me right now.”

“I’m not,” she took a deep breath. “What if we do nothing?”

“Nothing!” He screamed into the phone. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Charley took the plunge. “Jonathan, you’re predictable. They expect you to react this way. They hope to get tons of publicity from you throwing a fit. How about we sit it out? Let them play their game.” The silence was deafening. “Are you there? What do you think, Jonathan?”

“I’ll call you back.” And he hung up.

John barged in. “So, what happened?”

“I told him to ignore it,” she said leaning back in her chair. A big smile broke out across her face until she spilled soda on her blouse. “Damn.”

“You did what?” John yelled, passing her a tissue. “You still have that vodka in here?”

“We don’t need it John. I could tell he loves the idea. He’s just trying to figure out the best way to make it his idea.”

“Seriously?”

“Absolutely,” she smiled confidently.

“I hope you’re right.” His voice tone was unsure.

“I am,” she said. She pulled the noon rundown. “Noon looks like a good show.”

***

At five o'clock, Nancy Dennison premiered on channel-three news.

Normally, all eyes in the WCAR newsroom were on all six station monitors. Tonight there was special attention focused on channel three. The reporters, who weren’t out doing live shots, pulled up their chairs. Even the editors who never stopped editing found time for a break. When the five o’clock newscast ended, Charley’s phone started buzzing.

“She looked good, Thomas. You better be right.” And he hung up.

We’ll see in the overnight numbers, she reached into her refrigerator for the bottle of vodka.

“Their numbers will reflect a sampling,” John said reading her mind. “Miranda’s strip club stories better kick some ass. Set me up!”

“No problem.” She filled two glasses with Citron.

“Hey Charley,” he said reaching for his drink. “Would you like to go out and get a bite?”

“Like dinner?” she asked, pausing to look at him.

“Yeah,” he said. Charley saw his cheeks starting to turn red. A guy that blushes, she thought. How sweet. “You do eat, don’t you?”

“Uh.” She regained her composure. “Yeah, that would be nice.”

He tossed back his drink and stood up. “I’ll find you after the six, okay? We’ll go to the News Café. Find out what everyone thought about Nancy.”

Her eyes followed John as he walked back to the desk. Maybe he’d like to go to Gotham Steak at the Fontainebleau Friday night?

About the Author

Cindy Roesel is an Emmy Award winning television broadcast journalist. After working for twenty years in newsrooms filled with ambitious backbiting adrenalin junkies, she is turning her experiences into novels. Cindy lives in Miami with her shih tzu, Sassy.

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